1963

January

14

General de Gaulle, president of the French Republic, states that France doubts the political will of the United Kingdom to join the Community. A few days later, negotiations with all applicant countries are suspended.

February

5

Van Gend en Loos ruling. The European Court of Justice specifies that the Community constitutes a new legal order for the benefit of which Member States have consented to a restriction of their sovereign rights.

March

25-29

Mr Gaetano Martino is re-elected president of the European Parliament.

May

4

Official opening of GATT trade negotiations (Kennedy round).

July

1

In pursuance of the decision to speed up the establishment of a custom union, the sixth intra-community reduction in customs duties and the second alignment on the common external tariff are carried out.

20

The Yaoundé Convention, an association agreement which is valid for five years, is signed between the Community and 18 African states in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

September

4

Death of Robert Schuman.

23-24

The Council reaches an agreement in principle on the question of the merger of the executives.